Blasting-powder.



* Unrrnn snares PATENT QFFEQE,

RICHARD PONNAY, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOB OF ONE FOURTH TO JOHN F. HUBBARD, 0F LBS ANGELBS, OAEIWIA.

BLASTIHG-POWDER.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. RICHARD PONNAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Blasting-Powders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to compositions of matter of the nature of blasting powders, for use in mine blasting and for allied you poses, and it has for its object to provide an improved blasting powder which will be superior in point of relative inexpensiveness and safety of production, safety in use, free dom from noxious fumes and products of combustion, and strength orexplo sive potential, and which will be generally superior in etlicienoy and serviceability and adaptability to'varying conditions of use and service.

The above general objects and qualities oi superiority I obtain by the selection and admixture of certain ingredients or materials, in certain more or less approximately predetermined relative proportions, the same be ing mixed together or combined as about to be stated.

The ingredients which I utilize, and the relative proportions of the same in a given quantity of the resultant composition or product, are as follows :-chlorate of potash, 45%; sugar (beet or cane), 30%; manganese oxid, 10%; charcoal, 3%; and coal dust, 3%; all of the above ingredients are and sized as desired, as to granulation, and

separately ground or comminuted and moistened. The coal dust is first mixed with the chlorate of potash, and the other ingredients are then added and the whole mixture ground to produce a homogeneous mass. lhe'product is then dried and re-ground is ready for use. If charcoal alone is employed, the combustion is too violent and is 'dangerous. By using coal dust with the charcoal the combustion is modified and kept within limits of safety.

The blasting powder constituted as above Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 16, 1912. Serial No. 677,921.

' Patented an so, was.

Fahrenheit. It is safe to make, being free from liability to explode during the process of admixture of its ingredients. It is nonpoisonous in itself, and. also with respect to the products of combustion resulting "upon its explosion, as it produces non poisonous fumes, and even no fumes which are noxious or tend to choke or inconvenience miners and others using the powder in confined quarters. The powder is more inexpensive to produce than other blasting, powders found at present on the market, and is easier to compound and manufacture. It will not ignite spontaneously or under friction, short otheavy impact with or between hard surfaces, and it will not explode unless confined. It requires no fulminate to cause its explosion, nor any detonation, the simple application-of heat, by a spark or otherwise,

If the powder becomesmoistened it is not resultantly deteriorated,

being sufficient.

and when dried out, which may be safely done in an open vessel over heat, it has the same strength and'explosive efficiency as be fore becoming moistened.

Itwill be noted that all of the ingredients utilized in compounding the blasting powder are relatively inexpensive, a number of them particularly so; and I am therefore enabled to produce a highly efficient blasting powder, having all of the qualities and at tributes of superiority above outlined, which is lacking in the excessive cost attaching to the production and use of a great many explosives now found upon the market.

In conclusiongldo not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the specific provision, qualities, proportions, and method of admixture or compounding thereof as here inabove set forth; but the right to vary the same, in adaptin the invent-ion to varying conditions of service, or in comply iug with the exactions of various desiderata,

In esiimnny whereof, I have signed my name to tins spemfic'atwn 1n the presence of 7 two subscribmg wltnesses.

RICHARD PONNAY.

A blasting powder composed of c of notash su ar 89%. nmnvanes: A. 1 /E h p 1 y o 10% cnarcoa; 437% and coal dust 3,-%.

, a 7 b a C. P. \VARDEN, RAYMQND I 15 BLA'KQsLE i i vhm'rate Witnesses: 

